Faa Shuts All Airports In Wake Of Crashes

September 11, 2001|By Keith L. Alexander The Washington Post

Washington — The Federal Aviation Administration today closed all the nation's airports, for the first time in history, and ordered all U.S.-based airlines to cancel domestic and international flights until at least 6 p.m.

After two planes crashed into New York's World Trade Center, the federal government said that no takeoffs would be allowed and that airlines with flights in the air were to land their planes at the nearest available airport.

The one exception Tuesday morning was Pittsburgh International Airport, which the FAA said was a security threat, according to US Airways spokesman David Castelveter. He said the air tower at Pittsburgh International was evacuated.

European flights were being diverted to Canadian airports. Air Canada canceled all of its flights. Amtrak suspended service along the Northeast corridor.

United Airlines confirmed that two of its aircraft had crashed -- Flight 93, a Boeing 757 aircraft, departed from Newark, N.J. at 8:01 a.m. local time, bound for San Francisco, with 38 passengers on board, two pilots, five flight attendants; and Flight 175, a Boeing 767 aircraft, departed from Boston at 7:58 a.m. local time, bound for Los Angeles, with 56 passengers on board, two pilots and seven flight attendants.

United spokeswoman Ruth Venning said travelers should contact the airline at 1-800-932-8555 to obtain information.

American Airlines confirmed that it lost two aircraft. One was Flight 11, a Boeing 767 traveling from Boston to Los Angeles with 81 passengers, nine flight attendants and two pilots. The second was Flight 77, a Boeing 757 flying from Washington Dulles to Los Angeles with 58 passengers, four flight attendants and two pilots.

American customers who wish to receive information about relatives should call American's response number at 1-800-245-0999.